2023 The QTS Mekong River Experience

QTS Majestic Mekong River Cruise November 11, 2023 – November 18, 2023 with optional pre and post cruise experiences in

Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City Itinerary: Day One (Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023) – Phnom Penh. Sous Sdei and welcome to Cambodia. Today we will embark on our Emerald Cruises award-winning Star-Ship, the Emerald Harmony in Prek K’dam before 3:00 pm. You’ll be welcomed by your captain and crew and later, we’ll set sail whilst enjoying our first dinner on board with our fellow travellers. The spectacular Emerald Harmony Star-Ship will exceed all your expectations, as it introduces you to the majesty of the Mekong. Reaching 239ft (73m) in length, 42 cabins accommodate just 84 guests, you will enjoy spacious suites and public areas, as well as an excellent staff-to-guest ratio, with 40 crew members on board. Meals Included: Dinner.

Day Two (Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023) – Oudong - Phnom Penh. Start your day with a visit to the Oudong Monastery and Temples. Located north of Phnom Penh, Oudong was the former royal capital of Cambodia up until it moved to Phnom Penh in 1866. Important remnants on the temple sight include the burial sites of Khmer kings as well as religious artefacts dating back more than a hundred years.

Spend the afternoon as you please, simply relaxing on board Emerald Harmony or take advantage of an optional excursion. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Optional excursion: Silk farm tour at Koh Oknha Tei. Day Three (Monday, Nov. 13, 2023) – Phnom Penh - Vietnam / Cambodia Border Crossing. Wake up in Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh. The city known as the “Pearl of Asia”, it was almost entirely evacuated by the Khmer Rouge in 1975. This morning, we will learn more about the Khmer Rouge and the darkest days of the country’s history. A short drive will take us to the Killing Fields at Choeung Ek. Here you will have the opportunity to walk through the fields, visit the small museum and learn about this sad historic chapter. Then we’ll visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (also known as S-21). This is a former school that was converted to the main prison and torture headquarters of the Khmer Rouge. Back on board Emerald Harmony, we’ll enjoy a Cambodian Street Fair lunch, before visiting the majestic Royal Palace with its French-inspired gardens, followed by a shopping stop at the central market located in the heart of the city. Celebrate crossing the border with a Cambodian-style family dinner. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day Four (Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023) – Tan Chau – Long Khanh Island. After breakfast we’ll board a sampan to Evergreen Island and walk through a local village for a glimpse into the lives of the local farming community. This afternoon, we’ll all visit Long Khanh Island, known for its scarf weaving and Hoa Hao Buddhist pagoda. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day Five (Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023) – An Long - My An Hung. Today, you can choose to relax on board or join some of the guests along an optional excursion. Tonight, enjoy a Vietnamese family-style dinner. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Optional excursion: Tour of Tràm Chim National Park, home to Tam Nong Ramsar Bird Sanctuary.

Day Six (Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023) – Sa Dec - Cai Be. Today we’ll visit Sa Dec on a walking tour, with stops at the Chinese Congregational House in Kien An Cung, the home of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le, who inspired Marguerite Duras’ novel L’Amant, and enjoy a walk through the central market to peruse its varied produce. We will return to Emerald Harmony by sampan and, after lunch on board, we’ll arrive in Cai Be. Traveling via sampan, we’ll visit a coconut candy workshop and learn how coconut candy and other local sweets are made, then after visit a local French colonial heritage villa. We’ll have dinner on board this evening. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day Seven (Friday, Nov. 17, 2023) – My Tho - Ho Chi Minh City. Sit back, relax and take in a full day of sailing the magnificent Mekong River and canals. Watch as life in the Mekong Delta, known as the “rice bowl” of Vietnam awakens for another day as the ship departs early this morning to begin transiting the Cho Gao canal. This is the perfect opportunity to enjoy the ever-changing vista’s from the pool, to enjoy a treatment in the Wellness Area (additional expense), or to read a book and chat with new friends.

Cruise past mangroves, narrow canals, fish farms, busy cargo barges and local fishing boats alike.

Tonight, we’ll all dock in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City with views of the city lights. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day Eight (Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023) – Ho Chi Minh City Disembarkation. Bid farewell to your Emerald Star-Ship after breakfast this morning. Unlike other similar sized ships, the Emerald Harmony was designed to allow us to dock in the heart of this fantastic city. Meals included: Breakfast. **This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons such as high and low water.

As such, the cruise may operate altered from that stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions.

Group Size: This travel experience will be limited to the number of spots available onboard. QTS is sharing the Emerald Harmony with other guests and which carries up to 84 passengers.

Pricing: Emerald River View Stateroom (Riviera Deck) $2070 per person, based on double occupancy.

Emerald Panorama Balcony Suite (Vista Deck) $2520 per person, based on double occupancy.

Emerald Panorama Balcony Suite (Horizon Deck) $2920 per person, based on double occupancy.

Emerald Panorama Balcony Suite (Pool Deck) $3420 per person, based on double occupancy.

Grand Balcony Suite (Pool Deck) $3570 per person, based on double occupancy.

Owner’s 1-bedroom Suite (Pool Deck) $4570 per person, based on double occupancy.

Single supplement is full person cost as above minus $300 for taxes/port charges (ex: Stateroom $2070pp x 2 = $4140 - $300 = $3840) Non-Refundable deposit $500 (due within 48 hours of booking) to reserve your desired cabin. Final payment is due 120 days prior to departure. Please review the online registration form for terms and conditions.

SPACE WILL BE LIMITED AND CABIN TYPES WILL SELL OUT, PLEASE DON’T DELAY IN REGISTERING.

What is Included: • • • • • • • • • •

7 nights on board the Emerald Harmony.

Airport transfers to and from the ship (for guests arriving Nov. 11, 2023 and departing Nov. 18, 2023).

20 Meals as noted in the itinerary (7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners).

Complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks served with lunch and dinner on board.

Excursions included in the itinerary.

The services of an Emerald Waterways Cruise Director.

Professional English-speaking guides throughout all tours.

Port taxes and charges.

All applicable taxes.

All tipping and gratuities.

What is Not Included: • • • • • •

Airline flights (flights are typically made available 11 months prior and of course QTS will be happy to help you with the flight arrangements as the schedules become available).

Gratuities for local guides.

Optional excursions as noted in the itinerary.

Travel Protection Insurance (QTS will provide all travelers with an insurance quote).

Personal expenses such as shopping, meals not included in the itinerary, beverages.

Covid testing (If applicable).

Optional Add-On(s) • •

3-night pre-cruise tour in Phnom Penh.

3-night post-cruise tour in Ho Chi Minh City.

(Available for registration late summer 2023)

COVID-19 Info: • • • •

Emerald Cruises requires guests to be fully vaccinated to board (vaccinated PLUS one booster).

No testing is required to board.

Cambodia has waived the testing requirement for fully vaccinated travelers entering Cambodia by air.

Viet Nam has waived the testing requirement for fully vaccinated travelers entering Cambodia by sea.

This information is current as of July 13th, 2022.

Please be advised that requirements can change at any time and QTS will do the very best to ensure that our guests have met all COVID requirements, however, cannot be held liable.

To join us on this experience, please fill out the registration form link here: https://form.jotform.co/QTSolutions/RegistrationForm

For more information: Don Capparella info@qualitytravelsolutions.com 602-614-6679